Press Releases
Wyden Supports Bill to Improve Health Care Services to Veterans and Their Families
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to provide the highest quality health care for veterans and their families, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) voted in support of legislation that passed the Senate today to expand support for families and caregivers of wounded servicemembers that also includes provisions Wyden has cosponsored to provide greater access to health care for veterans in rural areas and improved services for female veterans at all Veterans Affairs medical facilities. "The goal of … Continue Reading
November 18, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce Millions in Military Construction Projects, VA Health Care
Washington, D.C. - Working to provide the means to keep Oregon's military infrastructure up-to-date and to ensure emergency services have the tools to keep residents safe, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced millions in funding for Oregon as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill passed by the Senate. The bill also marks the first time that the veterans health care funding will be budgeted for a two-year … Continue Reading
November 17, 2009
Senate Subcommittee To Hold Hearing on Managing Federal Forests in Response to Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow at 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will chair a hearing of the U.S. Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to discuss the Administration's response to climate change as it pertains to management of federal forest land. The subcommittee will hear testimony from Interior Department and Forest Service officials as well as forestry experts from Oregon State University and the … Continue Reading
November 17, 2009
Senators Press Holder to Declassify Key Facts about Patriot Act
Washington, D.C. - In anticipation of the upcoming Senate debate over Patriot Act reauthorization, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to declassify key information pertaining to the law's "business records" provision (Section 215). Today's letter follows a classified letter that the senators sent Holder in June 2009. "We appreciate that the Department of Justice has taken action on several of the issues we … Continue Reading
November 12, 2009
Wyden Legislation Seeks to Disrupt Oregon Sex Trafficking
Portland, OR - Recognizing Oregon's increasing human sex trafficking problem, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden today proposed greater protections for victims as a way to aid the prosecution of pimps. At a news conference in Portland, Wyden was joined by Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk and representatives of police and victims' rights advocates, who endorsed the legislation proposed by Wyden. "Sex trafficking is slavery, pure and simple. … Continue Reading
November 09, 2009
Wyden to Attend Veterans Day Events in Albany, Salem
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will march in the Albany Veterans Day Parade on the morning of Wednesday, November 11, and attend ceremonies in Salem that afternoon honoring Oregon soldiers killed in the Iraq-Afghan wars. With around 200 entries and as many as 40,000 spectators, the Albany event is recognized as one of the largest Veterans Day parades west of the Mississippi. The parade features veterans from wars past and present, marching units, military vehicles, and marching bands. … Continue Reading
November 06, 2009
Wyden, Westlund Join Efforts to Locate U.S. Savings Bond Holders
Portland, OR - Remember those U.S. Savings Bond your grandmother or aunt sent you each Christmas? Ever wonder what happened to them? Now, there's an effort underway to find out. The U.S. Department of the Treasury estimates that as many as 400,000 Oregonians may be owed as much as $160 million in mature savings bonds they may not know about. Nationally, the figure is an estimated 40 million Americans owed approximately $16.5 billion. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, with the support of State … Continue Reading
November 06, 2009
Senate Bill Includes More than $4 Million for Oregon Law Enforcement and Public Safety Projects
Washington D.C. - Continuing efforts to provide Oregon law enforcement with the tools they need to keep residents safe, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) announced that Oregon will receive more than $4 million as part of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate. The funding provides for violence and drug prevention efforts, giving law enforcement the resources they need to protect communities including funding for prevention … Continue Reading
November 05, 2009
Wyden to hold Annual Josephine County Town in Grants Pass on November 13
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host his annual Josephine County town hall meeting on Friday, November 13, 2009, in Grants Pass. Josephine County residents are invited to attend the open forum to ask questions and voice their concerns. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year. Josephine County Town Hall Meeting Date: November 13, 2009 Time: 10 a.m.Location: Grants Pass … Continue Reading
November 05, 2009
TriMet's Use of Build America Bonds Saves $3 million
Portland, OR - TriMet has become the second public entity in Oregon to take advantage of the new Build America Bonds program championed by Senator Ron Wyden. By using Build America Bonds on a portion of TriMet's recent $49.55 million bond issue, the transit district will save taxpayers nearly $3 million in interest costs over the term of the bonds. "The goal of Build America Bonds is to create jobs, rebuild America's infrastructure, and save taxpayer money by offering public entities an … Continue Reading
October 30, 2009
Declassifying Total Intelligence Budget Figures Informs National Security Debate
Washington, D.C.-. U.S Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today in response to the Director of National Intelligence's release of the total size of the National Intelligence Program budget. This number has been publicly released each year since 2007 pursuant to the requirements of the "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007" which included declassification language previously offered by Senator Wyden. "Declassifying the total size of the … Continue Reading
October 30, 2009
10 Senators Ask Reid to Expand Access to the Health Care Exchanges
Washington, D.C. - Nine Democratic senators joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today in expressing support for a version of Wyden's Free Choice proposal which would promote real competition among health insurers by increasing the number of Americans able to choose plans in the new health insurance exchanges. In a letter (below) addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Barbara … Continue Reading
October 29, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce $40 Million To Boost Geothermal Energy in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to advance alternative energy resources and break our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced nearly $40 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of geothermal energy technologies in Oregon. "This funding will literally help to bring Oregon's geothermal energy potential to the surface," Wyden said. "It will create and sustain jobs improving alternative … Continue Reading
October 28, 2009
Wyden Forwards U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal Finalists to President Obama
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden forwarded to President Obama today the names of the finalists chosen by a selection committee for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal for the State of Oregon. The 13-member selection committee appointed by Wyden and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley made their recommendations to Wyden after interviewing candidates and deliberating over last weekend. The committee chaired by Deschutes County District Attorney Mike Dugan was comprised of a diverse group of police, … Continue Reading
October 26, 2009
Senator Wyden Responds to Majority Leader Reid's Decision on Public Option
Washington, D.C.-. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement in response to Senate Majority Leader Reid's decision to include a public option with an opt-out provision in the Senate health reform legislation: "I agree with Senator Reid that health reform should give Americans more options. Now, I want to work with him to ensure that all Americans can choose those options. The bottom line is that the public option can't really hold private insurers accountable if it is … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009
Defense Authorization Bill Passes, Including Wyden Proposals on Back Pay for Troops and Ban on Burn Pits
Washington, D.C. - Persisting in his work to safeguard the financial and physical health of our troops, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) secured retroactive pay for 864 Oregon soldiers under the Post Deployment and Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) program along with a ban on the burning of hazardous chemical waste in war zones as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (H.R. 2647)."This bill takes concrete action on some really important issues for our troops," … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009
Wyden's Position on Net Neutrality Upheld at FCC
WASHINGTON, DC - Extolling the economic benefits of a free and open Internet provided by the policy of net neutrality, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released a statement today in response to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) vote to begin writing net neutrality regulations. The FCC will prevent internet service providers (ISP) from being able to act as gatekeepers, favoring their own applications or services over those provided by others and blocking or slowing certain internet … Continue Reading
October 21, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Help Save Oregon Manufacturing Jobs
Washington, D.C. - Fighting against a decision by the Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) that would have devastated Oregon knife manufacturers, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) saw the amendment they co-sponsored to prohibit the reclassification of certain knives as switchblades included in the final FY 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill that passed the Senate today. The amendment was sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.) and a number of senators … Continue Reading
October 15, 2009
Wyden to Meet with Central Oregon Soldiers Headed for Afghanistan
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will be in Redmond on Saturday, October 17, 2009, to meet with the National Guard troops from Central Oregon who are scheduled to be deployed next year to the Middle East, possibly Afghanistan. On the same day, Wyden will hold a town-hall style meeting with students at the National Guard Youth Challenge Alternative High School near Bend. The Department of Defense has alerted more than 3,500 members of the Army National Guard's 116th Cavalry Brigade … Continue Reading
October 15, 2009
Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Clears Senate and Heads For President's Desk
Washington, D.C. - Working to improve Oregon's waterways and alternative energy technology capabilities, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is on its way to the President's desk for signature. The bill, which includes nearly $200 million in projects for Oregon and the Northwest, has been approved by both the House and the Senate. The bill also includes millions in funding for … Continue Reading